RANGPUR, July 26, 2021 (BSS) – Farmers and farm-labourers are now very busy in transplanting Aman rice seedlings on their crop lands in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said a target of producing over 17.19 lakh tonnes of clean Aman rice (25.79 lakh tonnes of paddy) has been fixed from 6.12 lakh hectares of land for the region this season.

The target includes production of 14.86 tonnes of high yielding varieties of Aman rice from 5.32 lakh hectares of land, 1.93 lakh tonnes of hybrid varieties from 56,296 hectares and 39,625 tonnes of local varieties of Aman rice from 23,705 hectares of land.

Farmers have already prepared Aman rice seedbeds on 33,645 hectares of land against the requirement of preparing the same on 30,455 hectares of land for cultivation of Aman rice on 6.12 lakh hectares of land in the region.

“Transplantation of Aman rice seedlings have already been completed on one-lakh hectares of land as the process is progressing fast amid frequent seasonal monsoon rains in the region,” said Bidhu Bhusan Ray, Additional Director of the DAE, Rangpur region

The government has taken adequate measures to ensure supply of quality seeds,

prepare model seedbeds and ensure balanced fertilisation and adoption of advanced technologies to enhance rice production despite shrinking of cultivable land area.  

“Considering the possibility of seasonal floods, we have also taken steps to prepare seedbeds, if required, so that the farming process of Aman rice was not affected,” Ray said.

Farmers have kept shallow tube wells, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and Barind Multipurpose Development Authorities deep tube wells ready to operate for Aman rice seedling transplantation timely in case of less rainfall or drought-like situation.

Field level agriculture officials are providing necessary assistance and latest technologies to farmers to ensure successful cultivation of Aman rice braving the Covid-19 pandemic in the region.

Besides, steps have been taken to prepare late varieties of Aman rice seedbeds on highlands and community and floating seedbeds in low-lying areas so that there was no crisis of seedlings for floods, if any, this season in the region.

“Farmers are now transplanting Amn rice seedlings in full swing alongside preparing their croplands for the process in all five districts of the region where almost favourable weather conditions are prevailing so far for the purpose,” Ray said.

Talking to BSS, farmer Ariful; Haque Batul of village Najirdigar in Rangpur Sadar said he has already completed transplantation of Aman rice seedlings on his four acres of land out of seven acres of land by Sunday last.

“I hope transplantation of Aman rice seedlings on the rest of three acres of my land will complete soon,” he said, adding that the climatic condition is remaining favourable so far and he has kept his shallow tube wells ready for supplementary irrigation, if needed.

Farmers Echhahaq Ali, Manik Mian, Mahfuzur Rahman, Golam Mostafa and Abdul Motaleb of Rangpur Sadar upazila said they are continuing transplantation of Aman rice seedling on their crop lands in full swing amid a favourable climatic condition.